222 SPRINGS, RIVERS, CANALS, LAKES, 



shattered to pieces. They frequently dive so far underwater, as to 

 disappear for a quarter of an hour, half an hour, and sometimes 

 three quarters of an hour. The pit into which the torrent preci- 

 pitates them, is of a depth not to he ascertained, having heen 

 sounded with a line of several hundred fathoms, without reaching 

 the bottom *. 



In Norway, from the multitude of springs that issue from its 

 lofty mountains, and the vast masses of snow accumulated on their 

 summits, which gently dissolve in summer, are formed many lakes, 

 in some of which are floating islands, and a considerable number of 

 rivers, the largest of which is the Glommen or Glamer ; but no.ne 

 of them are navigable far up the country, the passage being every 

 where interrupted by rocks, and in some places by dreadful cata- 

 racts, in which the stream precipitates itself from the height of forty, 

 fifty, and even a hundred fathoms. The bridges over these ri- 

 vers are not walled, but formed of timber cases filled with stones, 

 which serve for the piers on which the wooden-work is laid. The 

 largest bridge of this kind has forty-three stone cases, and is a 

 hundred paces in length. In those places where the narrowness 

 and rapidity of the current will not admit of sinking such cases, 

 thick masts are laid on each side of the shores, with the largest 

 end fastened to the rocks ; one mast being thus laid in the water, 

 another is placed upon it, reaching a fathom beyond it, and then 

 a third or fourth in like manner to the middle of the stream, where 

 it is joined by other connected masts from the opposite side. Thus 

 in passing over the bridge, especially in the middle, it seems to 

 swing, which, to those who are not used to such contrivances, ap- 

 pears extremely dangerous ; so that, filled with terror, passengers 

 alight from their horses, and lead them over. 



In England, in the county of Devon, the Tamar receives a small 

 river called the Lid, which is peculiarly remarkable for being pent 

 up with rocks at the bridge, and running so far below it, that the 

 water is scarcely to be seen, or the murmurs of it to be heard, to 

 the astonishment of all strangers who have the curiosity to attend to 

 these uncommon circumstances ; for the bridge is level with the 

 road, and the water runs nearly seventy feet below it. 



Within a mile of this place is a cataract, where the water falls 



* Sec Mr, Gordon's account of this curious waterfall, Ph, Trans, for 1700. 



